Actors in a Play is the second release from this Dutch quintet, following 2002’s International Daylight. The lineup here is the same (though since the album was released bassist Eric Vandormael has departed). Being Dutch there’s a good chance this band follows in the footsteps of many, many neo-and symphonic-prog bands before them, which they do. The trademark elements are all in place: loads of melodic guitar leads and twiddly synths, warm beds of organ, lush instrumentals and drums that rock steady though with the requisite amount of jazzy finesse. Each song on the album is a mini epic, the longest being “The Statue” that clocks in at over 16 minutes and the closer “Both Sides of the Show,” packaged as a three-part suite. Singer Bart Schram has a distinctive vocal style, like a softer, gentler version of Fish, which may not appeal to everyone, though he helps give the band’s music a distinct personality where otherwise they’d sound just like so many others. The title of the album and several of the songs have a thespian bent, another nod to early Marillion even if the arrangements more often harken back to Lamb-era Genesis. The writing is good, though not brilliant and the performances solid, though nobody particularly stands out. Overall the album succeeds, though I sense the band hasn’t hit their full potential yet. Hopefully they’ll be willing to step out of the neo-symphonic prog box some on the next one.

Latest news

2018-02-18Didier Lockwood RIP –
Word reaches us today of the death of one of France's great jazz musicians, violinist Didier Lockwood. His playing bridged many worlds, from traditional jazz to fusion to progressive rock, and his talent can be heard on recordings by Magma, Clearlight, Pierre Moerlen's Gong, and many more. Lockwood was 62. »
Read more

2018-02-1510 Years of Fruits de Mer - The Incomplete Angler –
Those of you who are faithful followers of Exposé will know that we have been promoting Fruits de Mer and its side labels and releases from nearly its first year. Now music journalist and author Dave Thompson has written a book chronicling the past ten years as a celebration of this milestone. »
Read more

2018-02-14Tom Rapp RIP –
Singer / songwriter Tom Rapp, best known with the band Pearls Before Swine, passed away on February 12, at the age of 70, after a battle with cancer. »
Read more

2018-01-30Bill Bruford Ventures into Uncharted Territory –
Drum master Bill Bruford, veteran of some of the most creative bands in history (King Crimson, Yes, Genese, etc.), is sharing some of what he's learned about being a drummer and a musician in his new book, Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer, out on University of Michigan Press. »
Read more

2018-01-18Christian Burchard RIP –
Multi-instrumentalist Christian Burchard, who founded the seminal band Embryo in 1969, has died at the age of 71. His January 17 passing was announced on the band's Facebook page. »
Read more

Previously in Exposé...

K2 - The Book of the Dead –
Imagine Progrock Records’ Shawn Gordon’s surprise when he heard from K2 bassist Ken Jaquess that not only Allan Holdsworth but the late Shaun Guerin had agreed to play on his big time...
(2006) »
Read more